Austin Cartoonist Becomes First Woman to Receive Herblock Prize

The Herb Block Foundation, which awards the annual Herblock Prize for excellence in editorial cartooning, announced today that Jen Sorenson has become the first woman to win the award. “Winning the Herblock is one of the finest moments in a political cartoonist’s life,” Sorensen told The Washington Post. “Being the first woman to win the prize makes it an extra-special thrill.”

The former Charlottesville alt-weekly cartoonist is the creator of “Slowpoke” comics and now draws for the Austin Chronicle. Jen Sorensen’s comics and illustrations have also appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Daily Kos, The Progressive, NPR.org, Ms. Magazine, Politico, AlterNet, MAD, Nickelodeon, The Village Voice, and dozens of other publications around the country. The award comes with a $15,000 cash prize.